<\/p>\n
The IMF Executive Board completed the review of Niger\u2019s 60-month ECF arrangement, allowing the immediate release of about $33 million.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The latest disbursement brings total funding under the arrangement to approximately $342 million. Niger\u2019s ECF programme was approved on December 8, 2021, and has since been extended to December 2026 to allow authorities more time to implement key structural reforms.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The IMF said programme performance has been generally strong. All periodic quantitative performance criteria were met at the end of December 2025, while all continuous performance criteria have been met since completion of the eighth review.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Most indicative targets were also achieved, with authorities making progress on structural reforms linked to the programme.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
IMF Deputy Managing Director and Board Chair Kenji Okamura said Niger\u2019s economy remained resilient in 2025 despite difficult conditions. \u201cNiger\u2019s economy demonstrated resilience in 2025 despite a challenging environment,\u201d Okamura said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Okamura said the near- and medium-term outlook remains favourable, supported by the extractive and agricultural sectors.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
However, Okamura warned that risks remain tilted to the downside because of security threats, commodity price volatility, tight financing conditions, declining donor funding and the continued border closure with Benin. \u201cReform implementation under the ECF-supported programme continues. Sustained fiscal consolidation efforts are supporting macroeconomic stability,\u201d Okamura said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The IMF said higher oil revenue expected in 2026 will be used to reduce the fiscal deficit and address urgent social and food security needs.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Okamura said stronger domestic revenue mobilisation remains important to create fiscal space for development spending. \u201cMaintaining a prudent debt management and arrears prevention policy remains paramount,\u201d Okamura said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
According to the IMF, Niger\u2019s authorities are committed to clearing all external arrears by the end of 2026 and reducing the risk of future arrears through stronger treasury and debt management.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Fund also called for urgent steps to address weaknesses in the financial sector. These include a comprehensive review of the banking system, stronger bank balance sheets, better liquidity conditions and faster restructuring of the microfinance sector.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Okamura said governance reforms will be critical to sustaining public trust and protecting external support. \u201cDecisive reforms to strengthen governance and anti-corruption frameworks will support public trust, ensure more effective and transparent use of public resources, preserve external financial support, and stimulate private-sector-led, inclusive growth,\u201d Okamura said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The IMF said completing asset declaration reforms, publishing the Governance Diagnostic Assessment report and adopting a time-bound action plan will be important next steps.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
–IMF\/ChannelAfrica–<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":41074,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"news-type":[44],"class_list":["post-41073","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-type-finance","entry"],"acf":{"short_description":"The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a $33 million disbursement to Niger after completing the ninth review of the country\u2019s Extended Credit Facility (ECF).","published_date":"","news_description":"The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a $33 million disbursement to Niger after completing the ninth review of the country\u2019s Extended Credit Facility (ECF).","form_embed":"","author":"","image_caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/41073","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/41073\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41086,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/41073\/revisions\/41086"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41073"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-type?post=41073"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}